Thursday, October 12, 2017
Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation and Ahu Whenua Trusts Ruawahia 2B, Rotomahana Parekarangi 6Q2B and Te Ariki have joined forces again this year to control silver wattle in Tarawera.
The Tarawera wattle control project is in its third year of operation with a focus on the heavily infested area between lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana.
Regional council land management officer Scott Kusabs said controlling the wattles achieved benefits for both the natural biodiversity of the catchment area and water quality of the lakes.
Te Ariki Trust Chair Ken Raureti said the same crew that had undertaken the groundwork over the past three winters had managed to control wattles over 250 hectares of land.
“They have covered some challenging terrain through the harsh winter months in order to carry out stem injection of herbicide to kill the wattles and fell them in a safe manner that does not disturb the surrounding natural vegetation.”
Mr Raureti said the crew was predominantly made up of people who whakapapa to Ngati Rangitihi, Tuhourangi, and the whenua (land).
The plan in the future is to control seedlings and regrowth in areas already controlled as well as taking out the remaining thick stands of mature wattle trees and pines.
The Tarawera Wattle Control Project together with the Mt Tarawera Wilding Conifer Project is restoring the Mount Tarawera slopes and surrounding forest areas to a more natural state allowing one of New Zealand’s youngest landscapes to regenerate at its own pace.